Setting up Dialysis Centers Around the World

The Problem

Dialysis centers needed to be set up from scratch in Nepal and Tanzania

The Approach

Develop Operational Plan for setting up the centers
In countries like Nepal and Tanzania, kidney failure has a high morbidity and mortality rate and the management of kidney disease is costly as compared to other diseases. Emerald consultants leveraged their expertise in the healthcare sector to analyse the gaps in this space and develop a plan for setting up dialysis centres providing cost effective and quality services in both regions.

Feasibility and Market study of the Healthcare sector in both regions
Emerald developed an end to end feasibility and market study and a clearly defined comprehensive financial model with all cost and profit centres for the next steps.

The Solution

Emerald experts carried out primary and secondary research to establish the market entry strategies and a detailed competitor analysis by interacting with competitor hospitals, stand-alone dialysis centres and nephrologists to develop the best suited model for both projects. Medical tourism was considered as a part of the plan and customer acquisition rates and financials were calculated keeping in mind the various aspects of the same.

The Impact

The services and lack thereof in this space were assessed to offer the most cost effective, feasible and demand efficient offerings available to the patients and people of Tanzania.

The Way Forward

Currently, the projects are in the execution phase, where Emerald is involved in collaborating with existing players, assisting with customer as well as land acquisition. With Emerald’s extensive network of investors and suppliers, the team is able to provide guidance for investment options and reaching out to potential investors and also generate a robust supply chain for equipment, materials and medicines at competitive prices.

Expanding and Restructuring a Cosmetics Brand

The Problem

An Ayurvedic cosmetics brand based out of India needed to implement a restructuring and expansionary strategy to accelerate growth and enhance global presence

The Approach

The client is a mid-sized player in the cosmetics industry offering an array of products ranging from makeup products to ayurvedic oils. The brand possessed immense potential for becoming the leader in the market and expanding into new spheres. Emerald Group, along with its India partner firm, The Strategy Boutique, helped realize this potential.

The Solution

Operations restructuring for brand losing grip on Indian shoppers
End to end brand restructuring was conducted to reach a wider audience.

Primary and Secondary Analysis for strategy development for weak sales and executive turnover
The strategy was based on the responses from 150 primary surveys spread across North India and focus groups with industry experts and their analysis. Exhaustive secondary research was carried out including detailed customer mapping, competitor intelligence, internal and industry analysis. Further, the company’s operating model was studied to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

Implementation phase with supply chain development
The second phase of the project included implementation of the recommended strategies from phase 1. Emerald aided in on ground execution covering all aspects from tracking KRAs and targets to setting up sourcing chains.

The Impact

Emerald’s recommendations were adopted by the client which led to a multi-fold rise in market share in India and an increase in global sales volume.

Business Planning for a Home-grown Fashion Label

The Problem

An upcoming contemporary wear fashion label based out of India required brand consultants for market entry and brand building.

The Approach

For a new brand entering a competitive space in a region where the market is fairly exhausted, fresh ideas and strategic partnerships along with a comprehensive budget plan needed to be curated. Emerald followed a multi-phased approach from development of a market entry plan to implementation of growth strategies. The team developed a targeted approach for a robust manufacturing ecosystem and other aspects related to the clothing segment- selection of a value proposition, pricing considerations, communication and marketing, product creation calendars, analysing seasonal trends, among others.

The Solution

Analyse Trends and Strategies to develop new competencies for the fashion brand
Emerald consultants collated consumer insights and conducted a deep-dive competitor analysis as the first steps to analyse the trend in the market and provide recommendations on product creation and profit margins.

Profitability Analysis and Revenue Forecast for upcoming capsule collection
Channel for A hybrid model of a physical store and online platform was recommended after conducting a detailed retail shop profitability analysis, factoring in all direct and indirect costs associated with the brand.

Communication and Growth Strategy for overseas expansion
As the next step, Emerald stepped in to curate a marketing plan and develop an expansionary strategy with its network of international stockists and suppliers.

The Impact

The fashion brand has been able to tap into the market with unique value proposition and a streamlined value chain. Its collection is currently housed in more than 5 international stockists and has a profit margin of approximately 300%.

The Way Forward

With the initial phase of the project completed, Emerald remains involved in the business operations by redefining strategies and analysing seasonal trends in the sector. The approach is tailored according to consumer demand and integrated in the brand’s existing model.

Concept Store in Dubai

The Problem

Opening a concept store focussed on promoting Indian Handlooms in Dubai.

The Approach

Emerald is currently working with a leading fashion retailer in India and the UAE to assist in opening a concept store which replicates an Indian village to create a live experience for the customers. In order to deliver such a diverse and multicultural experience in Dubai, Emerald’s team is working on-ground in India as well as in the UAE to communicate the brand philosophy in its true essence. Extensive primary and secondary research of the Indian as well as of the UAE market is being carried out to study consumer insights and for the purpose of competitor intelligence.

The Solution

Establishing a Robust Sourcing and Supply chain with the Indian Handloom sector
Emerald consultants have curated a detailed business plan wherein the major chunk caters to identifying and connecting the client to a network of local weavers, artisans, and concerned government organisations associated with the handloom sector.

Product Recommendations and Pricing Strategy for the concept store
A state-specific research is being carried out in India and seasonal trends are being assessed in Dubai to recommend product offerings and develop a communications strategy.

Curating Executive Pitch for Investor Acquisition
Emerald has built a comprehensive framework for implementation of the project with stakeholder identification to partner with relevant organisations/brand ambassadors from India.

The Impact

Large number of weavers and artisans will directly benefit from the implementation of the project as the aim is to eliminate the middlemen and assign a greater share of the profit margin to the weaver himself. India’s vast handloom heritage with different cultural identities of states would be highlighted and promoted in Dubai.

The Way Forward

TSB experts are carrying out on-ground execution of the defined business plan.

Trading Commodities across Europe

The Problem

Opening-up food and animal feed supply chains across Greece, Eastern Europe and Asia

The Approach

Finding the right products to meet consumer demands The Emerald Group has been working with a large commodities sourcing firm operating in Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine, sourcing a multitude of food and nonfood products from various Asian Markets, including India. Emerald experts are working closely with the client to prepare and analyse key products traded between the regions

Developing efficient systems
We create reliable supply chains across the regions, and ensure that authentic and high quality products reach the destination in a timely and cost effective manner.

The Solution

Emerald has forged extensive relationships with major firms across all layers or delivery and logistics, viz. Shipping firms, freight forwarders, testing agencies, and the like, and as such can stand by the quality of the said products.

The Impact

This engagement has developed and matured over the last few years, to the extent that our client now is perceived as one of the most trusted and reliable suppliers in the region. Their food and animal feed portfolio are among the most impressive in the region, and directly and indirectly benefits millions of farmers and end users.

The Way Forward (or The Realisation)

Building Long Term Models
Our engagement with this firm continues, as we keep building on the list of products traded between the two regions. Advanced analytics is being conducted to determine the competitive advantage of procuring the products in Asia, and undercutting firms sourcing them from other regions.

Planning Strategic Reinvestment
Further, a part of the revenue is strategically reinvested to enhance the product portfolio and expand the supply chain. We apply enhanced research and analytics to assess the consumer behaviour and demand patterns to continuously evolve and cater to the changing needs. Emerald and the client enjoy a long-term engagement, and the intent is to radically improve supply chains between the two regions.

Feasibility for introducing ready to go reagents for a Major Healthcare Firm across key global markets

The Problem

A major healthcare firm was considering making some sizeable investments in launching ready to go reagents to transform the process of blood sample collection and analyses. Emerald was hired to explore the potential of such reagents for various end use cases like forensics, border control, disease diagnosis and prevention, weather and climate forecasting, among other applications.

The Approach

Getting to the root
Emerald conducted an extensive primary research among 200 key stakeholders from national security agencies (including border control), airports and aviation firms, hospitals and diagnostic centers, immigration bureaus, and weather forecasting agencies.

Analyzing the Findings and Planning a roll out
These findings were coupled with advanced discussions with key stakeholders within the firm, an elaborate and extensive profiling of competitor products and extensive secondary research. Analytics and frameworks were used to determine products and end use cases in which our client would have a direct competitive advantage, so as to achieve a phased roll-out.

The Solution

Emerald experts provided a Go-to Market Strategy to ensure a staggered product roll-out covering the most pressing and profitable end use scenarios, followed by scenarios where they would come up against strong incumbents. An analysis of competitor products ensured adequate product differentiation and perceived benefits of our client products, over the competition.

The Impact

Leading with powerful success metrics
The study took over 4 months, and virtually all our recommendations were implemented by the client. The client currently either has a monopoly or to say, a very strong competitive advantage over its competitors in 14 out of the 19 applications they have ventured into, across 6 continents. Their customers include major regional, national and local governments and semi government agencies, and large private entities.

Sustainable, Soaring Growth Rates
They comfortably beat their own growth forecasts for this business, and even in times of global pandemics, it remains a major cash cow for them.

The Way Forward

A successful engagement always leaves the door open for more engagements, and this has indeed been the story here. We continue to work with this client on some of their other global projects and maintain a strong relationship with them.

Healthcare Incubation

The Problem

Reduce the contextual risk of investment by working with healthcare projects and businesses which have a potentially viable business model in Africa

The Approach

Emerald has had a large portfolio in the healthcare space with the arrangement and facilitation of bespoke financing, investment and business development solutions tailored specifically to potentially mid-market profitable start-ups, businesses and projects in the African healthcare sector.

The Solution

Based on this, Africa’s first healthcare specific incubator has a unique four-pronged model:

Facilitating Market Entry
A wide variety of Health and Pharma companies wishing to enter or expand their operations in the healthcare sector in Africa. These vary from multibillion-dollar healthcare companies to small niche operators who are entering the continent for the first time either with a multi-Speciality facility or a focused Speciality centre

Supporting Small Enterprise Development - Healthcare Incubation
Emerald Group has supported incubated companies in various phases of development in Africa, a new distribution company in Liberia, a start-up health tech in Nigeria, and a pharmacy group in Ghana

Connecting, for a Better Future - The AFIF healthcare Conference
A flagship healthcare conference held in conjunction with the EMRC each year mainly to expose the African Healthcare Sector to world investors

Creating Meaningful Impact with The Afya Fund®
We are working together to start Africa’s first dedicated incubator investment fund that invests both equity or debt and is solely for SME healthcare organizations

The Impact

Emerald has helped various start-ups and young businesses in the healthcare space to develop their expansion, growth, resources and quality.

The Way Forward

African Healthcare has been identified as one of the top six ‘white space’ sectors: high growth, high profitability and low consolidation. The SMEs in particular, are undervalued and underrated. There exists, therefore, a substantial opportunity for consolidation and endless possibilities for growth with local knowledge and expertise, a strength of team Emerald and Afya, as we continue to help realize the same every day.

Entering the Electric Vehicle Market

The Problem

A leading automotive player sought consultancy for entering the electric vehicle market.

The Approach

Understanding the Market
Emerald consultants conducted extensive primary research among nearly 100 stakeholders from across the value chain to gauge the potential of the market and identify sectors with potential. Comprehensive secondary research was conducted to size the market and forecast future growth. Various data sources were used to do so. Competitor mapping, value chain analysis and customer segmentation was conducted to understand the market trends, sentiment, opportunities and potential. Customer needs and requirements were carefully analysed to help build the most suitable product for the Indian market.

Formulating Actionable Strategies
Findings from the primary and secondary research and analysis were used to develop actionable and dynamic strategies to facilitate market entry. Various factors were incorporated to do so, including specifics regarding supply chain set up, pricing feasibility and possible partnership opportunities among others. A detailed costing breakdown was performed to identify the viable selling price for the product along with tailored marketing strategies for customer acquisition.

The Solution

Emerald experts developed a stage wise road map to implement the recommended strategies. A phased plan was curated to take into account the client’s capabilities and facilitate market entry.

The Impact

The client has deployed the roadmap provided by Emerald to enter the market and onboard partners. The project is currently in the implementation phase.

Developing a MSME Super Solution

The Problem

Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the FMCG supply chain in the Gulf region to ease the lives of MSMEs.

The Approach

Identifying the Pain Points
Emerald conducted primary research in the Middle East region with surveys conducted in micro, small and medium retail stores, pharmacies and restaurants. Findings from the surveys and focus groups were combined with robust secondary research to identify and analyse pain points in the MSME value chain.

Analysing the Feasibility of the Offering
The viability of the offering was assessed according to identified market trends, gaps and pain points. The solution was tweaked according to market trends and customer needs. A detailed financial feasibility was also performed to evaluate the revenue, cost and profit centres in the project to judge the financial feasibility of the solution.

The Solution

Based on findings from primary and secondary research, a phase wise plan was drafted by Emerald for the implantation of the solution. The scope was defined as feasible only to enter the retail and restaurant space given the highly organised nature of the pharmaceutical market. Further, it was advised that the offering be eased into the market by way of a stage wise rollout to make adoption of technology easier for the MSMEs.

The Impact

The project aims to ease the lives of MSMEs across the Gulf by providing access to efficient market information, advanced technology and easier procurement processes. Emerald’s recommendations helped fine tune the offering for the defined customer base to drive maximum impact and yield high returns.

The Way Forward

The project is now in the implementation stage where it is being jointly carried out by the local Emerald team and the client. Bottlenecks and challenges along the way are being dealt with and the plan is equipped to be constantly adapting and evolving based on industry response.

Product Launch of an Aerated Beverage

The Problem

Emerald Group was hired by an Asian FMCG giant to advise on the launch of a new beverage product. The client had a diverse range of existing products which were sold across South East Asia and included juices, candies, wafers and chips.

The Approach

Emerald and TSB consultants undertook a robust market landscaping to narrow down on the target market for the product. Extensive secondary research was done to size the markets. The forecasts were backed by robust data analysis from extracted data and databases. This coupled with the primary research created a comprehensive roadmap for launching the product.

The Solution

The target markets in 6 Asian countries – India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia were studied to analyse customer needs and pinpoints. Over 100 primary surveys were conducted with the target audience spread across the above-mentioned countries to better understand what the customers were looking for in ‘on-the-go’ beverages. Further, focus groups discussions with industry leaders were used to validate primary findings and build on the existing analysis.

The Impact

Out of the 6 specified markets, 4 were deemed to be profitable and feasible to enter. These were ranked in order of priority and a stage wise plan was formulated for implementation.

The Way Forward

The go to market strategy proposed by Emerald was deployed by the FMCG brand and the product is currently selling in the South East Asia.

Angola’s First Diagnostic Center

The Problem

Lack of quality healthcare in one of the largest countries in Africa, effectively excluding over 31 million Angolans from a formal healthcare system

The Approach

Emerald experts were called upon by a leading hospital management firm to set up a state of art healthcare facility in the capital city of Luanda. As the first part of this engagement, a comprehensive feasibility study and market research was undertaken to determine the appropriate location for the said facility. Consumer behaviour was analysed to understand the ‘psyche’ of a typical Angolan, to ensure that the facility would cater to their requirements effectively and seamlessly. A parallel pharmaceutical distribution facility was conceived to ensure easy access of world class medicines in the country.

The Solution

Local partners were identified and vetted to kick-start the process of setting up the hospital and pharmaceutical distribution warehouse. The total project cost was budgeted at Euros 16 million, all government approvals were sought, and local and international vendors were engaged to bring this project to fruition.

The Impact

The completion of this project would herald the start of the formal healthcare system, comprising of a state of art hospital and drugs complying with international standards. This would directly benefit every Angolan who wouldn’t have been able to afford costly overseas treatment, as well as those who would have earlier had to travel abroad for relatively simple procedures. The aim is to reduce the mortality rate in the country and ensure a higher standard of living for its citizens.

The indirect benefits of this would be to the national exchequer, keeping valuable foreign exchange in the country, money that would have been spent on expensive healthcare bills in neighbouring countries, and Portugal.

The Way Forward

Emerald experts continue to engage closely with the client in ensuring all aspects of the project are completed ahead of schedule and are closely involved in the running of the hospital and the warehouse. The client has enlisted the services of Emerald to conceptualise similar projects in other African countries.